BSO_Overture_Sept2021_r24 | Page 36

PROGRAM NOTES

BRUCH AND SIBELIUS

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Dalia Stasevska
Randall Goosby
Dalia Stasevska ’ s charismatic and dynamic musicianship has established her as a conductor of exceptional versatility . Chief Conductor of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra from the 2021-22 season and Artistic Director of the International Sibelius Festival , Stasevska also holds the post of Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra . She made her BBC Proms debut in 2019 and conducted the Last Night of the Proms in 2020 . In 2021 she conducted the First Night of the BBC Proms and opened the 2021 Edinburgh International Festival .
Highlights of the 2021-22 season include debuts with the New York Philharmonic and the Baltimore and Seattle symphony orchestras , as well as the Orchestre National de Lyon and the opening of the Tongyeong International Music Festival with soloist Truls Mørk . Engagements have included the Orchestre National de France , Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra , and Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal . A passionate opera conductor , she returns to Den Norske Opera to conduct Madama Butterfly and Lucia di Lammermoor .
Stasevska studied as a violinist and composer at the Tampere Conservatoire and violin , viola , and conducting at the Sibelius Academy . She was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society ’ s Conductor Award in 2020 .
Signed exclusively to Decca Classics in 2020 at the age of 24 , violinist Randall Goosby is acclaimed for the sensitivity and intensity of his musicianship and his determination to make music more inclusive and accessible , as well as bringing the music of under-represented composers to light .
Highlights of Goosby ’ s 2021-22 season include debuts with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel , Detroit Symphony under Jader Bignamini , London Philharmonic Orchestra , and the Philharmonia Orchestra .
2021 marks the release of Goosby ’ s debut album entitled Roots , a celebration of African- American music that explores its evolution from the spiritual through to present-day compositions . It features world-premiere recordings of music written by Florence Price and works by William Grant Still and Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson , as well as a newly commissioned piece by Xavier Foley .
Goosby made his debut with the Jacksonville Symphony at age nine . At age 13 , he performed with the New York Philharmonic on a Young People ’ s Concert at Lincoln Center and became the youngest recipient to win the Sphinx Concerto Competition . A graduate of the Juilliard School , he continues his studies there , pursuing an Artist Diploma under Itzhak Perlman and Catherine Cho .
Dalia Stasevska
Randall Goosby
Experience the Performance Again A livestream of this performance is available for a limited time . A BSO Sessions episode , featuring an interview with Dalia Stasevska , is available through the 2021-22 season .
Kaupo Kikkas Jarmo Katila
FROM THE PODIUM
by Dalia Stasevska
As a longtime admirer of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the work of Marin Alsop , I am honored to open the new season , and I ' m excited to bring along some Nordic music that is very dear to me . I moved to Finland when I was five , and it feels like the Finnish composer Sibelius has always been in my life . Before I even knew that I wanted to be a conductor , I was in love with the orchestra , and I was able to play one of Sibelius ’ symphonies for the first time when I was 14 or 15 , as a violinist with my school orchestra . I find constant joy and discovery in his music !
In the Second Symphony , you can feel Sibelius ’ heart bumping for something new and exciting right from the first motive . He can ’ t wait to explore it . Sibelius composed part of the symphony in Italy , where he traveled to get fresh new ideas , and it feels as if he combines the
Italian sun with the magic of Finnish forests and lakes . Most of Finland is forests and lakes , and you feel that presence everywhere : the silence , the smell of it . We have a deep respect for nature , the Finnish people . This is a very deep and personal work for Sibelius , “ a confession of my soul ,” as he once said .
With Andrea Tarrodi , it ’ s the same as with Sibelius — I can hear her strong bond with nature . Her music is powerful and fragile at the same time , and she is a master of tone colors . She has this special color and mood that immediately draws you into a magical , mysterious world . You get a feeling from it , and music has to have feeling . It has to tell you a story . I ' m looking forward so much to exploring this music with the wonderful musicians of the BSO !
SEP-OCT 2021 / OVERTURE 17